Feeling hopeless and depressed

Billymac

Very low esteem and making decisions is a my worst nightmare

been on medication for over 15 years , stopped taking it 6 months ago .

started feeling really bad about a month ago and getting worse, worrying has increased into sleeping as well . Anyone experiencing similar after stopping their meds ?

Croix

Dear Billymac~

Welcome here to the Forum. It was a good idea of yours to seek out other's experiences and not just go it alone. Please do be aware everyone is different, and what applies to one person does not necessarily apply to others.

May I ask why you stopped your meds and also if anything has happened in your life recently to make you feel this bad?

I fell into a trap many others have fallen in.

I was sailing along in pretty reasonable shape and had been doing so for a long time. At the same time I'd been taking meds which seemed to help when I first started them.

Eventually I thought I had been right for long enough I did not need them any more, and with the knowledge of my psych tailed off them. As I reduced my symptoms which included anxiety, excessive worry, distorted thinking and decision making, sleepless nights all increased.

Talking it over with my psych, the one that had started the prescription, he said either the original conditions was still there and had been held in check by my meds, or else it was a symptom associated with the tailing off. there was no easy way of deciding which it was.

So I agreed to go back on the meds, and then after a while tail off much more slowly, which I did. Unfortunalty in my case the symptoms I mentioned returned again and after a period wihtout meds life was so unpleasant I went back on and have stayed on ever since.

So in answer to your question I'd see your prescriber, describe what is happening to you (notes are a help) and see what is said.

If you felt like coming back and saying how you got on that would be great

Croix

Louise__

I’ve been medicated for 10 years. I’ve found that any change in dose or skipping a couple of days results in anxiety overload.

I recently dropped my dose and realised that I was way more emotional than usual (snapping, crying, irritated etc) I ended up going back to my usual dose and it’s taken me a while to even out.

your body has been used to the medication for so long that it’s a huge shock for it to start balancing its chemicals again without the intervention. I know everyone is different but based on my experience, it’s easier to function on them rather than off of them.

the best thing to do is to get the happy chemicals going. Go to the gym, or for walks, spend time outside or doing mindful/peaceful things. Eat well and often. Make sure that you’re doing positive things for your body whilst it works out how to adjust to the change